Throughout his career Jon Cryer has turned in outstanding, eclectic performances in film, television and on stage. Cryer has earned two Emmy Awards for his work as Alan Harper in CBS’ hit comedy Two and a Half Men; most recently in the Lead Actor category and previously winning in the Supporting category. This puts him on a very short list of actors to win awards in both categories for the same character. He was also recently nominated for his first Screen Actors Guild Award in the Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Comedy Series category. The show won the People’s Choice Award for Best New Comedy Series in its debut year as well as Favorite TV Comedy from the group. After making his directorial debut on an episode of Two and a Half Men during its fourth season, Cryer continues to direct episodes of the show.
Cryer’s first foray into television was playing the title role in CBS’s critically acclaimed The Famous Teddy Z. He has since starred in two shows for FOX, Getting Personal and Partners, and was also seen on ABC’s The Trouble with Normal. In addition, he’s had notable guest starring roles on The Practice, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and Mr. Show.
Cryer initially gained attention on the big screen opposite Demi Moore in No Small Affair, followed by his iconic performance as an endearing misfit in John Hughes’ Pretty in Pink. Other film credits include Hot Shots, Hiding Out, Shorts and the indie feature Weather Girl.
Cryer’s talent is not limited to acting—he’s a gifted filmmaker as well. He co-wrote, produced, and starred in two well-received independent films with director Richard Schenkman. The first, The Pompatus of Love, explores the romantic floundering of four friends in their thirties. Cryer based his second film, Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God…Be Back by Five, on the true story of a childhood friend who was homeless and living in Central Park. The film garnered awards in film festivals both in the US and abroad.
On stage, Cryer has hit the boards on both sides of the Atlantic. He most recently appeared in the New York Philharmonic Broadway revival of Company which marked his first foray into musicals. He played David in Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song Trilogy, bringing the role from Broadway to Los Angeles; starred as Eugene Jerome on Broadway in Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs; and played Jack in the Los Angeles premiere of Boys Life. His performance in the London production of 900 Oneonta inspired the Daily Mail to proclaim Cryer’s work “…undoubtedly one of the funniest performances on the West End stage.”
A native New Yorker, Cryer is the son of actor David Cryer and writer and actress Gretchen Cryer. Alongside his mother, he did his first commercial at the age of four and was so excited that he broke out in hives, halting production. He studied acting at Stage-door Manor, a summer acting camp featured in Todd Graff’s Sundance favorite Camp, before being accepted to the London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. In the fall of 2011 coinciding with the 9th season of Two and a Half Men, Cryer was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
More about Jon Cryer at: IMDb Wikipedia